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US 2022/0045594 A1Published application
Linearly actuated magnetic coupling device
AssigneeMagswitch Technology, Inc.
InventorsDavid H. Morton, Paul Karp, Shane N. Felton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to magnetic coupling devices. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to magnetic coupling devices configured to be linearly actuated and de-actuated.
Claims19
A magnetic coupling device for magnetic coupling to a ferromagnetic workpiece, comprising:
- a housing having an axis extending between a first end portion of the housing and a second end portion of the housing;
- a ferrous piece arranged at least a first distance from the second end portion of the housing;
- a magnetic platter supported by the housing, the magnetic platter including a plurality of permanent magnet portions interposed between a plurality of ferromagnetic pole piece portions;
- and
- wherein the magnetic platter is linearly translatable within the housing along the axis to at least each of a first state and a second state, the magnetic platter being arranged adjacent to the ferrous piece such that the magnetic coupling device establishes a first magnetic circuit through the ferrous piece and provides a first magnetic field at a workpiece contact interface of the magnetic coupling device when the magnetic platter is in the first state and the magnetic platter being arranged spaced apart from the ferrous piece such that the magnetic coupling device provides a second magnetic field at the workpiece contact interface when the magnetic platter is in the second state, the second magnetic field being a non-zero magnetic field strength.
2 more elements
A method of coupling and decoupling a magnetic coupler to a ferromagnetic workpiece, the method comprising the steps of:
- contacting the ferromagnetic workpiece with a workpiece engagement interface of the magnetic coupler;
- moving a magnetic platter of the magnetic coupling device from a first separation from the workpiece engagement surface to a second separation from the workpiece engagement surface that is less than the first separation;
- moving the workpiece from a first position to a second position with the magnetic coupler;
- and
- moving the magnetic platter to a third separation from the workpiece engagement surface to decouple the magnetic coupler from the workpiece and to form a magnetic circuit through a ferrous piece within the housing, the third separation being greater than the second separation.
2 more elements
A magnetic coupling device for magnetic coupling to a ferromagnetic workpiece, comprising:
- a housing having a passageway defining a passageway axis;
- a magnetic platter supported by the housing, the magnetic platter being moveable along the passageway axis between a first position and a second position, the magnetic platter including a plurality of permanent magnet portions interposed between a plurality of ferromagnetic pole piece portions;
- a workpiece contact interface supported by the housing and adapted to contact the ferromagnetic workpiece;
- and
- a magnetic shunt supported by the housing and magnetically accessible from the passageway, wherein with the magnetic platter is in the first position a first magnetic circuit is formed with the magnetic platter and the magnetic shunt and with the magnetic platter in the second position a second magnetic circuit is formed with the magnetic platter and the ferromagnetic workpiece through the workpiece interface.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.